logo
Focus on 'real bread-and-butter issues': SM Teo tells WP not to 'inflame emotions' over Israel-Palestine conflict, Singapore News

Focus on 'real bread-and-butter issues': SM Teo tells WP not to 'inflame emotions' over Israel-Palestine conflict, Singapore News

AsiaOne26-04-2025

In what seemed to be a pointed reminder to the Workers' Party, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Saturday (April 26) that the focus of this General Election (GE) should be on "real bread-and-butter" issues, as he warned against "inadvertently [inflaming] emotions among Singaporeans" over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
During his speech at the People's Action Party (PAP) rally for Punggol GRC at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, Teo reiterated the Government's condemnation of the illegal use of force against innocent civilians, as well as its support for a two-state solution.
"I have explained quietly and behind closed doors the issues involved to many Singaporean groups, including Malay-Muslim groups, and Singapore's principled stand on this, so that there is more understanding and we do not create friction and conflict among ourselves," he said.
Teo's remarks appear to be in response to Workers' Party (WP) Punggol GRC candidate Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar's rally speech on Friday. The 43-year-old WP new face had referenced concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, and brought up the Education Ministry's amended lessons on the Israel-Palestine conflict to make a point about the need for healthy discourse.
"I put forward this example to show how much it means to the average Singaporean to have their voices heard. After all, the elected officials are elected in order to be the voice of Singaporeans," said the lawyer in a WP rally on Friday.
Her speech had triggered online debate among netizens, with some questioning if the topic should be raised during a GE rally.
In his speech on Saturday, Teo noted that WP's Gerald Giam, the incumbent Aljunied GRC MP, had previously served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Giam had also accompanied Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on a working visit to the Middle East, where they had met with Palestinian, Israeli and other leaders.
"He should therefore understand the situation and that there are no magic solutions for this long-standing problem that can suddenly resolve this conflict," said Teo in the rally, to cheers from spectators.
"I hope Mr Gerald Giam will also take the time to explain this to his own colleagues, so that in the heat of this General Election, we do not inadvertently inflame emotions among Singaporeans.
"And so that we can focus on the real issues… the real bread-and-butter issues and the needs of Singaporeans," he added. Speaking out against foreign interference on politics
The conflict was also brought up through social media posts made by Noor Deros, a Singaporean Islamic religious teacher based in Malaysia, who claimed that he had met several Malay WP candidates and urged them to take a strong stance against Israel and recognise the state of Palestine.
Several PAP candidates have spoken about against foreign interference in the election, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who called on all parties to categorically reject these endorsements.
The WP said in a statement on Saturday that there were "no promises, commitments or agreements made to any individual, including Noor Deros, in exchange for political support" for its candidates.
In his speech on Saturday, Teo also stated that just as Singapore would not want foreigners to interfere in its politics, "similarly, we must also be very careful not to import the attitudes and the quarrels of elsewhere" and "let these divide our society".
He noted that this doing so "will lead us backwards and destroy the harmony we have all taken 60 years to build together". 'I will bring another 24 years of experience': Gan
Teo, who helmed the former Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from 2001 to 2025, had announced his retirement from politics on Nomination Day (April 23).
Instead, the PAP's team contesting Punggol GRC, which comprises some estates carved out from the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong — after his surprise switch from Chua Chu Kang GRC.
Also in the team are Senior Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs Sun Xueling, and Yeo Wan Ling.
They will be facing a WP team made up entirely of political newcomers — Siti Alia, Harpreet Singh, Alexis Dang and Jackson Au.
Teo praised Gan's extensive political experience and said he will be a good fit for Punggol.
"Look at the beautiful Punggol, it's such a wonderful place," he said. "And now, we have DPM Gan to lead our team to make it even better."
Speaking last at the rally, Gan called himself "a newbie" to Punggol, but made reference to his extensive experience.
"Janil, Xue Ling and Wan Ling have among them almost 30 years of experience in running a town council. And I will bring another 24 years of experience."
While Gan noted that Punggol has become "a shining model of Singapore's heartland" due to developments such as the Punggol Digital District and Punggol Waterway, he acknowledged that improvements to the area are needed.
These include additional covered linkways, more green spaces, and improved connectivity for residents
"I will talk to my good friend, Minister of Finance and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, to see whether we can get more money to build some of this necessary infrastructure for our residents," said Gan.
[[nid:717171]]
chingshijie@asiaone.com

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Aid group says Israeli forces boarded Gaza-bound boat
Aid group says Israeli forces boarded Gaza-bound boat

CNA

time18 hours ago

  • CNA

Aid group says Israeli forces boarded Gaza-bound boat

CAIRO: The organisers of a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other activists said Israeli forces intercepted the vessel on Monday (Jun 9), after Israel vowed to prevent it from reaching the Palestinian territory. The Madleen aimed to deliver aid and challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since before the Israel-Hamas war. "Connection has been lost on the 'Madleen'. Israeli army have boarded the vessel," the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) posted on Telegram, adding that the passengers had been "kidnapped" by Israeli forces. AFP lost contact with the activists on board. Mahmud Abu-Odeh, a Germany-based press officer with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, told AFP that "the activists seemed to be arrested". The British-flagged Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on Jun 6 and had hoped to reach Gaza later in the day, when the interception occurred, the group said on its Telegram account. Among those on board the boat are Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. Israel had vowed to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza. Shortly before the FFC statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing the Israeli Navy communicating with the Madleen over a loudspeaker, urging it to change course. "The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade," a soldier said. "If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the (Israeli) port of Ashdod." The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Navy had directed the boat to change course as it approached "a restricted area". About an hour later, it said the boat was being towed to Israeli shores. "The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," the ministry wrote on social media. "The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," the ministry added. Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally. Gaza's health ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's more than 2 million residents are facing famine.

Israel reveals tunnel under Gaza hospital, says body of Sinwar's brother found there
Israel reveals tunnel under Gaza hospital, says body of Sinwar's brother found there

CNA

timea day ago

  • CNA

Israel reveals tunnel under Gaza hospital, says body of Sinwar's brother found there

KHAN YOUNIS: The Israeli army said on Sunday (Jun 8) it had retrieved the body of Hamas' military chief Mohammed Sinwar in an underground tunnel beneath a hospital in southern Gaza, following a targeted operation last month. Another senior Hamas leader, Mohammad Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, was also found dead at the scene along with a number of other militants, who are still being identified, said IDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin. Israeli forces gave a small group of foreign reporters a tour of the tunnel that had been uncovered beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, which Defrin said was a major command and control compound for Hamas. "This is another example of the cynical use by Hamas, using civilians as human shields, using civilian infrastructure, hospitals, again and again," said Defrin. "We found underneath the hospital, right under the emergency room, a compound of a few rooms. In one of them we found, we killed Mohammed Sinwar," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sinwar's death last month, but Defrin said they now had his DNA which proved beyond doubt it was him. Hamas has not commented on reports of the death of either Sinwar or Shabana. Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies, and which triggered the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Shabana was one of Hamas's most senior and battle-hardened commanders in southern Gaza. He played a central role in constructing the network of tunnels under the southern city of Rafah, which were used for ambushes and cross-border raids. DESTRUCTION The drive to Khan Younis in Israeli military vehicles showed widespread devastation, with countless buildings lying in ruins, and piles of rubble collected at the roadside. The Israeli military has raided or besieged numerous hospitals during the war, alleging that Hamas uses them to conceal fighters and orchestrate operations, a charge Hamas has repeatedly denied. While Israel has presented evidence in certain cases, some of its assertions remain unverified. Defrin said the army had carefully planned the strike near the European Hospital in order not to damage it. A large trench dug infront of the Emergency Room entrance led down to a hole in the claustrophobic, concrete tunnel, that was used as a hideaway by Hamas fighters, the army said. During the search of the site, Israeli forces recovered weapon stockpiles, ammunition, cash and documents that are now being reviewed for intelligence value. "We will dismantle Hamas because we cannot live with this terror organisation right in our backyard, right across our border," Defrin said. More than 54,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli assault, according to Gaza health authorities. The UN has warned that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store